riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Washington County Disaster Risk

Washington County, New York

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

57th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#46

of 62 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

71th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 71% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 20% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 59% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 73% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Washington County

Risk Verdict

Washington County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 57th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Hurricane risk is the dominant hazard for Washington County, scoring in the 73th percentile nationally. It is followed by flood risk at the 71th percentile. Additional hazards include earthquake (59th), tornado (44th), wildfire (20th).

Preparedness Context

With hurricane risk as the top concern, Washington County residents should know your evacuation route, stockpile supplies for at least 72 hours, and review your homeowners and flood insurance policies annually. Secondary risks such as flood also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Washington County is notably safer than the average county in New York. Its composite risk score is 12.8 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Washington County, NY?
Washington County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 57th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Washington County?
Washington County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: hurricane (73th percentile), flooding (71th percentile), earthquake (59th percentile), tornado (44th percentile), wildfire (20th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is hurricane at the 73th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Washington County risk compare to the New York average?
Washington County's composite risk percentile is 57th, compared to the New York state average of 69th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Washington County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in New York.
Is Washington County at risk for hurricane?
Yes, Washington County's hurricane risk is at the 73th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Washington County is at the 71th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Washington County a safe place to live?
Washington County's composite risk score of 57th percentile is below the New York state average of 69th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is hurricane at the 73th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Livingston County

New York

-0.3

Relatively Low

56th percentile

Wayne County

New York

-0.3

Relatively Low

56th percentile

Genesee County

New York

-0.5

Relatively Low

56th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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